Post Baccalaureate Pre-Med Program

This certificate requires a minimum of twenty-four hours of credit, with six hours of possible transfer credit. The specific program of study would be determined by the student’s professional goals and the requirements of the intended program; we recommend you view the admission prerequisites for various health professions for guidance. 

The courses included in the Pre-Health Professions Certificate are: 

BIO 105: General Biology 1 and Lab (4 credits) 
Basic principles and concepts of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, development, and evolution with consideration of how they relate to contemporary problems. Topics include cellular structure, function, bioenergetics and differentiation. Mendelian genetics, DNA structure and function, mutation and genetic illness, chromosome disorders, cancer, aging, bioengineering, Darwinian evolution, natural selection, and the origin of life on earth. No previous background in the subject is required. 

BIO 106: General Biology 2 and Lab (4 credits) 
The basic principles and concepts of organismal, population, and ecological biology. Topics include nutrition, gas exchange, circulatory systems, immune systems, osmoregulation and excretion, endocrine control, nerve and muscle function; survey of plants and animals and their evolutionary and ecological relationships. Principles are related to contemporary problems such as disease, population growth, food production, pest control, pollution, and energy resources. Prerequisite: BIO 105 or equivalent. 

BIO 206: Human Anatomy and Lab (4 credits) 
Human organ systems from an integrated and functional perspective, especially for students preparing for non-medical-school or allied health programs. The laboratory includes cat dissection and human anatomical models as well as latest software technology. Prerequisites: BIO 105 and BIO 106. 

BIO 405: Physiology (4 credits) 
Covers the basic principles and mechanisms of animal physiology. Emphasis is placed upon nervous systems, sensory mechanisms, endocrine systems, intracellular signaling mechanisms, and muscle contractility. Homeostatic mechanisms and the systems responsible for supply of the internal environment are also discussed. The laboratory consists of mainly experimental procedures of cellular physiology. Prerequisite: BIO 200 or permission of the instructor. 

BIO 406, Microbiology (4 credits) 
Microbiology is devoted to the study of prokaryotic organisms that include both bacteria and viruses. In this course, students will explore several major themes of modern microbiology, including the fundamentals of microbiology; microbial genetics and diversity; and medical microbiology, such as immunology and human disease. Pre-requisites: Bio 105 and 105L, General Biology or the equivalent. 

CHM 103: General Chemistry 1 and Lab (4 credits) 
The fundamental principles of chemistry including instruction in general chemistry and qualitative analysis. 

CHM 104: General Chemistry 2 and Lab (4 credits) 
A continuation of CHM 103. 

CHM 223: Organic Chemistry 1 and Lab (4 credits) 
A study of the compounds of carbon utilizing a problem-oriented approach both in lecture and laboratory that emphasizes the use of spectroscopic methods. Prerequisites: CHM 104 and Lab. or equivalent. 

CHM 224: Organic Chemistry 2 and Lab (4 credits) 
A study of the compounds of carbon utilizing a problem-oriented approach both in lecture and laboratory that emphasizes the use of spectroscopic methods. Prerequisite: CHM 223. 

CHM 308: Introduction to Biochemistry (3 credits) 
An introduction to the biochemical reactions associated with living cells. Topics include protein structure/function relationships; enzyme structure, mechanism, and inhibition; carbohydrate and lipid structure. The biochemical reactions of the cell are surveyed, including glycolysis, Kreb’s cycle, electron transport, gluconeogenesis, and lipid and amino acid metabolism. Prerequisites: CHM 223 or equivalent. 

EPS 111: Elementary Physics 1 and Lab (4 credits) 
This course provides a non-calculus presentation of fundamental concepts of physics designed for non-science majors and students preparing for allied health fields. This course includes mechanics, waves and heat. Assumes knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. 

EPS 112: Elementary Physics 2 and Lab (4 credits) 
This course provides a non-calculus presentation of fundamental concepts of physics designed for non-science majors and students preparing for study in health fields. Topics include optics, electricity, magnetism, and an introduction to relativity. Assumes knowledge of algebra and trigonometry. Prerequisite: EPS 111 or equivalent. 

MTH 217: Introduction to Statistics (3 credits) 
An introductory course for the student interested in applications of statistical methods. Topics include probability, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, variance analysis, correlation, and regression. 

MTH 109: Calculus 1 (3 credits) 
An introduction to the basic theory of differential and integral calculus with applications in the biological and social sciences. This course introduces students to one-variable calculus and covers topics in limits and differentiation. The emphasis is on applications of calculus to problems in the biological and social sciences.   

MTH 110: Calculus 2 (3 credits) 
This course covers topics in integration in one-variable calculus and gives an introduction to the calculus of functions of two variables.  Prerequisite: MTH 109. 

Tuition for the Pre-Med/Pre-Health Professions Certificate is very competitive. A 4-credit science course is $404 per credit, plus a $120 lab fee, totaling $1,736 per course as of the 2022-2023 academic year. Non-science courses are $404 per credit or $1,212 total per 3-credit course. 

Additionally, PCSCE offers several financial aid options for students to help defray the cost of school, including a maximum aid award of $5,500 for eligible students.